26th, 27th constitution amendments bills introduced in NAs

ISLAMABAD: As many as two new constitutional amendment bills including the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Constitution (Twenty-seven Amendment) Bill, 2017 were introduced in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Both the bills were introduced by Minister for Law and Justice and Climate Change Zahid Hamid in the House.

Giving the salient features of the Twenty-six constitution amendment, Zahid Hamid said that the amendment aimed at restoring delegation of powers by the federal government to its officers or subordinate authorities which were omitted in 18th Constitutional amendment. Amendments to Article 90, 99 and 139 were sought in the proposed bill.

The statement of objects and reasons of the a Twenty-seven constitution amendment says that the Parliamentary committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) constituted by the Speaker pursuant to unanimous motions passed by the National Assembly and Senate formed a sub-committee consisting of representatives of the all the major political parties to examine and make recommendations regarding proposals for electrical reform received by the PCER.

Draft Election Rules, 2017 have also been suggested for consideration of ECP. Some amendments in the Constitution specific to the ECP approved by the PCER have already been enacted through the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016. The remaining amendments recommended by the PCER included in the present bill. –APP